Side broom assembly and drive



June 26, 1951 w, TT 2,558,623

SIDE BROOM ASSEMBLY AND DRIVE I Filed July 31, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iii.ZHz EUTUF CAkL W Morr June 26, 1951 c, w, -r 2,558,623-

SIDE BROOM ASSEMBLY AND DRIVE Filed July 31, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 CARLW Mor C. W. MOTT SIDE BROOM ASSEMBLY AND DRIVE June 26, 1951 2,558,623

Filed July 31, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June26, 1951 c. w. MOTT SIDE BROOMASSEMBLY AND DRIVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 51, 1946 l I I l l I l II I I l l I ZUVEHTQP CARL W Morr m w w Y 2. 0 mo Pi 6H v L|| in 21 F +5?l Patented June 26, 1951 SIDE BROOM ASSEMBLY AND DRIVE Carl W. Mott, La.Grange Park, Ill., assignor to Elgin Sweeper Company, Elgin, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application July 31, 1946, Serial No. 687,460

Claims.

. 1 This invention relates to improvements in power driven streetsweeping brooms and more particularly this invention relates toimprovements in brooms adapted to operate at the side of a sweepingmachine for sweeping out the gutters and in the means of driving suchside brooms.

In street sweeping machines it is customary to employ an auxiliary sidebroom to sweep out the gutters. This is chiefly due to the fact that thegutters are usually inclined at an angle to the adjacent surface of thestreet. The main broom which sweeps the street surface is not adapted todig into the gutter and remove dirt and debris. Therefore a side broomthe working surface of which may be inclined to correspond to the angleI of the gutter is employed for this purpose.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a power drivenbroom which may be quickly and accurately adjusted for sweeping variousshapes of gutters.

It is another object of this invention to provide improved means forlifting the side broom out of contact with the street when it is notsweeping.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved means fordriving a side broom.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide drive meansfor a side broom wherein the side broom drive may be disconnected fromthe main drive when it is desired to move the vehicle without operatingthe side broom as for instance when going to and from the scene ofoperations.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a side broomassembly which may be dismounted as a unit from the sweeping machinethereby permitting adjustment and alignment of all moving parts prior toinstallation.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a drivemeans for a side broom in which the mechanism is simple in construction,protected from dirt and dust and is readily accessible for maintenancework.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means ofadjusting the operating height of side brooms to compensate for wear onthe bristles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an enclosing housingabout the driving mechanism which will maintain its dirt resisting sealno matter at what angle the broom is adjusted.

According to the general features of the invention a side broom, adaptedto be placed in contact with a surface to be swept, is mounted forrotation about a-substanially vertical shaft, which 2 is driventhrough'bevel gears from the main power transmission mechanism of thesweeping machine. e A feature of this invention is the provision of aV-shaped'member which is attached at its apex to a lift-yoke about thelower portion of the broom assembly and which is adjustably secured nearthe end of each arm to a rigid frame'mem ber, whereby the side broomdrive'shaft may be selectively "adjusted in directions both laterallyand rearwardly of the machine.

Another feature of this invention is the pro-' vision of a bellcrankassembly pivoted on a frame member, and connected at one end to aremotely controlled hydraulically actuated cylinder by means of whichthe broom may be lifted off the ground when not in use.- In accordancewith another feature of thein-: vention there is provided a completelyenclosed drive mechanism into which is incorporated a slide clutch fordisconnecting the side broom' drive mechanism from the main drive of thesweepin machine when it is-desired to operate the machine withoutoperating the broom.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the detaileddescription of the annexed sheets of drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a more or less side elevational view of a street sweepinmachine embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view partially in section and partiallybroken away, of the side broom assembly and the broom drive mechanismand mounting therefor.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partially in section of thestructural framework at the front end of the vehicle showing the method'of supportnig the side broom adjusting bars and the hydraulicallyoperated lift cylinder.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partially in sectionand partly broken away, taken substantially on line IVIV of Figure 1looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V- V of Figure 2 looking inthe direction indicated by.

the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view takenon line VI-VI of Figure 3looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIIVII of Figure3 looking in the .direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 3 on line VIII--VIII ofFigure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line IX-IX of Figure4.

A side broom assembly and drive embodying the features of the presentinvention is especially adapted for use on a self-propelling small sizeor baby?1 street sweeping machine, on the order of that disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 646,525 filed February 9, 19% and whichissued April 25, 1950 as U. S. Patent No. 2,505,199.

Such a sweeping machine may comprise a front or engine section [I] and a'rear'orsweepingisection H with a cooperatively intervening operatorscab [2. Supporting the front power section I is a framework orchassis-comprising structural member I3 which may also support theoperators cab and afforcia structural connection with the rear sweepingsection II of the machine. Mobility of themachine is afforded by apairof rear -dr'ivingwheels supporting the sweeping section II and driven ina suitable manner as by means 'of a chain-and sprocket drive I5 from apower transm'ission system 16' which is prefera'bly locatedin'theoperators cab-f2. "The front ofthemachine is 'supp'orted by asteerable wheel I lzfiwhich isimo'unted under thechassis l 3. 7'i'Thesweeping section H is preferably constructed principally'ifromsheet metal, including side plates l8 secured to atop plate (not'shown)to form a substantiallyinverted -U -shaned housing. '1 This housing maybe supported by fastenings at its forward end to -the structural memhersand to the transmission housing. At

itsrearward end thehousingmay be su ported by suitable bearing sleevessecured to the rear axle-1'9. A-s plash guard andclosureplatestructurelfl at each "side 0f thesweeping section l lencloses-'fthe drive wheels and the operatingmechanism of the machine.

Mounted for' operation partially 'between' the forwardportions of therear wheels l'4 on an axis parallel to rear axle l9 and accessiblethrough x-appropriate removable sections "(not shown) of the outerclosure plate structure andt-openings-in' the innerside plate IB'is amain swee broom" 22 of "the rotary cylindrical type. The broom 22 mayembody any "preferred construction "and comprises radial bristles,mounted about a-suita'ble core supported by an axle shaft 23. "'Shaft23may be 'mounted in a suitable fashion parallel to the axle l9 upon therear ends of supporting arms 24 pivotally' connected'at their forwardends adjacent the bottom of cab l2. Main sweeping broom-22 may be driventhrough a chain and sprocket drive 25 from the power transmission l 6.For a more detailed'descri'ption of the construction and operation ofthe main broom assembly reference may be had to my=copendingapplicationSerial No. 667,070, filed May 3, '1946.

-Disposed in front of the main broom 22 and extending transverselyacross the machine. is Bi'dllt bucket 26 which is, adapted to.receivethe sweepings. from .the main broom22 as .the broom revolves ina counterclockwise direction. This dirt bucket is atleast as wide as themain broom 22. ."Ifhebucket 26 is supportedo-n arms-.21 which are overthe space occupied. by the-main broom 22. and are. pivotallymountedunsuitable brackets 2a secured .totherear axle 19.

In the operation of the.mach-ine,=thearms-ll are; swung :up periodically.to dump :the con- 4 l tents of the bucket '26 into a dirt box 28 whichis disposed inside the sweeper housing.

For a more detailed description of the construction and operation of thedirt bucket 26, reference may be had to my copending application SerialNo. 680,041 filed June 28, 1946.

According to the present invention an auxiliary side broom assembly 30is mounted at one side "of the operators cab I2. The function of thisside broom is to dig dirt out of the gutter and sweep it outwardly underthe machine and againstrthe dirt board 3|. The dirt board 3! preventsthe dirt from being thrown clear of the "-"machine'o-n the far side anddirects it into the path of the .oncoming main broom 22 which sweeps "itup into the dirt bucket.

:.As1sho,wn inFfigure 2 the housing for the mechanismfor driving theside broom 3!] comprises a ma'i'mdrive shaft housing 32, a gear housing33, an upper side broom drive shaft housing 34 and a lower side broom'drivershaft housing .35, fall suitably connected :byoverlappingtflangesvand held together as by capscrews. The main driveshaft housing '32' 'comprises an elongated tube adapted atTitSJinIIerrend '361to telescope over a cylindrical arm 3T'which projects outwardlyfrom the transmission housing I6a. An oil retainer ring 382is=positioned .in a :recess' in end 3 6 around arm." 31 .to preventescapeof lubricating oil .at this point; Onthe upper side of the 'housing- 32'aniopening isprovided for a coupling'leverassembly 39 the function ofwhich will bedescribed hereinafter. 'At-its outer end a recess 32a "isformedinathefhousing 321to receive a ball bearing member 40. A-fiange-32b-.on the .housing 3211s adapted .to receive .therearound the innerend or thehousingw33 which is'connected to the housing- 32 byxaplurality of capscrews 44.

:In order-toiprovide easy access :to the mechanism at thisend of thedrive shaft, an opening 33a is provided in the upper surface-of'the gearhousing 33 over-which a removable'plateii is secured by capscrews 46.'An aperture 33b in theilowersurface of the housing 33 communicates withan opening 41 in a main broom drive gear housingdii. The hOlISil'ig 48-i-s-secured to the underside of the housing 33 by capscrews 49. Acountershaft 50, journalled in the housing 48, is driven by means of agear 5| keyed thereon and carries at its outer end -a drive sprocketElabymeans of-which the main sweeper broom 22 is rotated. To provide abearing surface for the upper end 24a of the main broom supportarm24,.a-ishoulder 48azhas been formed -in housing 48:. .The housing. 48 issecured at "its lower end securedto the housing 33 by apluralityof'capscrews 56.

The upper side of broom drive shaft housing 34 comprises an upperfr-ustc conical section 34b and a lower substantially semi-sphericalsection 340 connected by a cylindrical section 34d. An openingintheuppersection'34b is adapted to receive a ball bearing member 51.Extending outwardly from the spherical surface of section- 340 is anarm-34f which is secured to the gear housing 48 by capscrews-My.

provide a universally pivotal cap which permits the swingin of thehousing to conform to the angular adjustments of the drive shaft withoutdestroying its dirt-resisting seal. Any convenient number of clamps 58suitably disposed on the flange 35b may be used. I have found that twoclamps positioned substantially opposite each other to be a satisfactoryarrangement. The

clamps 58, bearing at their upper ends on thehousing 3411 provide asupport means for member 35a and for a tubular guard member 62 whichdepends from the flange 3511 by means of the capscrews 59. A lowertubular shaft shield 63 is adapted to telescope inside the shield 62. Atits lower end the shaft shield 63 abuts an adapter plate 64 and is heldthereon by a plurality of spring clips 65 which snap into a groove 63aonthe inside surface of the shield 63. Clips 65 are fastened to anadapter plate 64 by capscrews 66.,

As illustrated in Figure 2 the broom assembly 38 comprises downwardlyextending bristles 18 which are secured in holes in a broom head H bytaking double length bristles, bending them into U-shaped and forcineach end through ad-. jacent holes in the broom head. The broom head 1|is secured to a broom top plate 12 by'a plurality of bolts 1| a.

For driving purposes the broom top plate 12 is secured to a flange 13aof a broom drive member 13 by means of the capscrews 14. A squarecentral aperture 15 disposed parallel to the cen-' tral axis of thebroom 38 is provided in member This aperture 15 is adapted to receivethe.

13. square shank of a drive shaft 16. The use of a square drive shaftpermits the broom to be driven by the shaft and still allows the broomto slide up and down relative to the shaft.

In order to permit angular adjustment of the broom, the drive shaft 16,which is centrally disposed in relation to the shaft shields 62 and 63,is keyed at 16a to one leg ofa universal coupling 11 for rotationtherewith. The shaft 16 is secured to the coupling by a nut 18. Theother leg of coupling 11 is keyed at 11a to an upper drive shaft 88 forrotation therewith and is secured thereto by a nut 8|. 1

To maintain its vertical alignment upper drive shaft 88, rotating insidethe housing 34, is journalled in a sleeve 82 secured in section 34d. Anoil seal 83 is disposed about the shaft 88 just below the sleeve 82.Near its upper end shaft 88 is also journalled in ball bearing member 51positioned in a recess in the upper surface of the housing 34. Keyed tothe upper shaft 88 for rotation therewith is a bevel gear 84 which isheld against endwise movement by a locknut 85.

Rotation is imparted to bevel gear 84 due to it gear 88 which is adaptedto drive the gear 5| and.

6 1 thereby to drive the sprocket 52 as previously described. Spacertubes 89 and 8911 are disposed between the gear 88 and the bearings 48and 48a. Movement of the shaft 81 toward the left is prevented by alocknut 98 threaded on the shaft 81 abutting the bearing 48.

At its inner end shaft 81 has a splined connection on which a coupling9| is adapted to slide. A second spline shaft 92 protrudes outwardlyfrom transmission housing I6a and is adapted to receive the tonguemembers 93 of coupling 9| (Figure 5) as the coupling is slid inwardlyover the shaft 92. The sliding member 9Ia of coupling 9| is moved backand forth on the splined part of the shaft 81 by means of a manuallyoperated lever 39a of lever assembly 39.

' In the position shown in Figure 2 the coupling; has been slid intoengagement with the spline shaft 92 thereby causing the shaft 81 torotate with shaft 92. If it is desired to disconnect these shafts, thelever 39a is swung about a vertical shaft 391) to which it is pinned.This will cause an end member 390 tobe rotated through an are due to thefact that it is secured to a vertical shaft 391) by a radius arm 39d.Member 390 projects downwardly into an annular groove 9| 1) in thesliding member 9Ia. As the end member 390 is moved to the left in anarcuate path it causes the sliding member 9la to be moved to the leftout of engagement with the spline shaft 92. The vertical shaft 39?) isdisposed off center laterally in relation to the longitudinal axis ofthe shaft 81, as shown in Figure 5, in order that the arcuate path ofthe end member 390 will approximate travel along the axis of the shaft81 thus eliminating the possibility of being swung out of con-' tactwith the groove SI?) of sliding member 9Ia.

Thus it is seen that the broom assembly 38 is mounted to be driven fromthe main transmission of the sweeping machine by means of a bevel geardrive, having a sliding coupling member for disconnecting the drive anda universal joint for permitting the broom to be positioned at variousangles.

When the side broom is not being used it is desirable that it be liftedout of contact with the street. In the present invention thi isaccomplished as illustrated in Figure 4, by means of a hydraulicallyoperated cylinder 93 which is pivotally connected at one end to abracket 94 attached to a frame member I3. At the other end hydraulicfluid is admitted to the cylinder at the inlet 93a. Adjacent the inlet93a. a piston rod 93b extends outwardly to b pivotally connected througha pin 95 to a bellcrank 96. Said bellcrank 96 is pivoted by the pin 91in a pair of hinge bars 98 which depend downwardly from a mounting tube99 which is supported by framemembers through the brackets 99a and 99b.A

lift arm I88 is pivotally connected through a pin- The outer portion ofthe,

yoke I84 has a stud I83a. pivotally threaded into a threaded bore I831)in the housing I83 as seen in Figure 4.

- As illustrated in Figure 3, the lift yoke I 84 comprises asubstantially U-shaped member I84a closed at its open side by a plateI841) which is secured thereto by the capscrews I840. At opposite sidesof the lift yoke I84 and on a line substantially at right angles to theaxis of the lift arm I88, openings are provided in the lift yoke I04 fortwo; lift pins I: which: pivotally' connect the lift yoke: to abroonrring 1-00.

As best seen in Figure. 2,, the lift ring I06 comprises an upper memberI061: which is. secured to the adapter plate 64 by capscrews 66, thusbeing connected to the lower telescoping/shaft.shield153. Alower'memberI06b of liftin ring I06 is secured to the upper member I06a. bycapscrews HIT. Positioned between the upper and lower members of thering I06" is the outer ring of a ball bearing member I08. The inner ringof the ball bearing member I08 is secured between a shoulder on thebroom drive member I3 and a threaded retainer member F09. Thus it isseen that the broom 3.0 is free to rotate with the drive member I3 whilethe lift yoke I04 remains stationary. However,

When the lift yoke is raised by the hydraulic cylinde'r, the broomassembly 30 will also be raised due to the lifting action transmittedthrough the bearing member I08 to the threaded retainer member I09.

I-n.Figure 4 is illustrated in dotted lines a hydraulically operatedbroom lifting mechanism which is adapted to operate on a broom mountedon the outer side of the vehicle. In some cases as for instance onstreets having one way traffic it is advantageous to have side brooms oneither side of the vehicle in order that either gutter may be cleanedwithout running against the traffic.

A distinct feature of this invention is the ability of the hydrauliccylinder 93 to hold the broom in any position desired. For example thissingle acting cylinder will hold the broom entirely clear of the groundor it will hold it in sweeping position. As the bottom of. the broomwears it is necessary that the. broom be lowered and held in the newoperating position. This is accomplished by means of the controls in theoperators cab, no mechanical adjustments being necessary.

It is also to be noted that side broom assembly 30 is rigidly secured tothe sweeper machine proper at only two points, namely, at the lift yokeI04 and at pin 53 at the lower end of gear housing 48. The pin 53 isquickly removed by taking out the cotterpin and the yoke I04. is easilyseparated from the broom by unscrewing plate I042) from member I04a.Then by removing the chain from sprocket 52 and sliding upper end 24a ofbroom support arm 24 from its bearing 48a, the whole side broom assemblyand drive may be removed as a unit. The end 36 of drive housing 32 willof course slide off the projecting arm 3! of transmission housing Ifia.From the foregoing it is now clear that the whole unit may be assembledand aligned previous to installing it on the machine. Also, inorganizations that use several machines, a spare broom and driveassembly can be kept on hand and quickly installed when repair oroverhaul of the operating unit is required. Thus it would not benecessary to lay up an entire machine due to wear or breakage of anysmall part.

For best results in sweeping gutters it is desirable that only the outerfront quadrant of the rotating broom contact the street. This permits a,definite digging action that will dislodge caked mud in the gutter andat the same time will not impose an excessive frictional sweeping loadon the drive mechanism. To secure this operating position it isnecessary that the broom be pivoted about its universal joint in adirection toward the rear of the machine and in toward the machineproper.

This is accomplished (Figure 3) by means. of two rods H0 and III. Rod H0is screwed into the pivot housing I03: and locked therein by a jam nutH2. At its. other end; the lOId. H0; is pivotally suspended: from the.mounting tube 99 as best. shown inFigures. 6 and'7. Rod IJIO projects.through a. pivot: housing 3 which fits be tween the two legs of? aforkedmember II4-. A pivot pin. H5 is threaded into each leg of theforked. member H4 and has an unthreaded end II5a extending into thepivot. housing II3 being journal'l'ed therein. Thus the rod IIO by meansof its position in. the pivot housing H3 is free to pivot. in relationto. the. forked member. I I4.

Referring to Figure 7, the forked. member II.4v is hung from: themounting tube 99 by means of an upper: rod. IIJM which extendsupw'ardlyI through a sleeve- I.I.6 which has. been welded in place in'a;vertical opening which has been cut.

in the tube 9.9. A. washer IF". is seated on the upper end of the sleeveH16 and a slotted head nut H8 is screwed down on a. threaded portion ofthe upperv rod 4a; The. rod II4a is prevented' from unscrewing by a.cotterkey I 19' inserted through the rodand confined: in the slottedhead nut I I8.

A coil spring I20 is disposed: about the rod H0 abutting at one end on.the jam nut H2 and at the other end on the pivot. housing IF3. This.

spring I20 tends at all times'tot urge the broom assembly away from themachine. On the end of the rod I'I0' adjacent the pivot housing I I3 anut I2I and a jam nut I22 are disposed for adjusting:

the rod in relation to the. housing N13.

The rod I I I is pivotally connected to the pivot housing I03 by meansof a. pin I23 (Figure 8) which projects through a pivot member I24? towhich the rod III is secured as by welding. At the other end rod III issuspended from the mounting rod 99' in the same manner as was describedin connection with the support of the rod I I 0. Also, to urge the broomaway from the machine a spring I is providedand a nut I26 and a jam nutI21 is furnished for adjusting the rod II I.

' It is readily seen from Figure 3 that the broom may be adjusted in adirection toward or away from the machine by shortening or' lengtheningthe efiective length of the rods H0 and III through manipulation of. thenuts at the endv oi the rods.

Also, it will be noted that if one rod is shortened more. than .theother the broom will be moved toward the front; or the rear of themachine as the case may be. For example, if the: rod III is lengthenedand the rod tI0is shortened,thebroom assembly will'move'f'orward. Toobtain this result pivoting must take place about the pin I23. It isalso to be notedv that. in all. adjustments of the broom, the rodportion I000 of the lift arm I00 is free to slide in. or out in theeyebolt I02 and also that the eyebolt I02 is free to pivot in its screwfitting in the pivot housing I03.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

'I claim as my invention:

1. In a sweeping machine including a side broom, means for adjusting theoperating position of said side broom comprising a rigid V-shaped memberpivotally secured at its outer.

ends to the frame of said sweeping machine and at its apex to said'sidebroom, and means foradjusting the distance between the outer pivotalconnection of each arm of said V-shaped member and the apex thereof.

2. In a sweeping machine including a side broom, means for adjusting theposition of the side broom comprising a pivot member secured to saidbroom, a first arm rigidly secured at one end to said pivot member andpivotally connected at the other end to the frame of said sweepingmachine, a second arm pivotally connected at one end to said pivotmember and at the other end to the frame member of said sweepingmachine, a spring member disposed on each of said arms between saidpivot member and said frame, and means operative on each of said armsfor adjusting the length of each of said arms between said pivot memberand said frame independent of the other arm.

3. A street sweeping machine including a power driven broom pivotallymounted in a universal socket, means for adjusting the universallypivoted position of the broom comprising a V-shaped member pivotallyattached at its outer end to the frame of the machine and having itsapex pivotally secured to said broom, and spring urged means foradjusting the length of each of said arms between the apex and the outerpivotal connection.

4. In combination in a street sweeping machine, a side broom mounted foruniversal pivoting movement and means for simultaneously adjusting saidside broom both laterally and longitudinally of the machine, said meanscomprising a pivot member secured to said broom and pivotally connectedat the other end to the frame of said sweeping machine, a second armpivotally connected at one end to said pivot member and at the other endto the frame of said sweeping machine and a spring disposed on each ofsaid arms between said pivot member and the frame.

5. In a street sweeping machine, a drive shaft, a universal joint insaid shaft, a side broom assembly mounted on said drive shaft forpivotal movement therewith about said universal joint, and spring urgedmembers connected to said broom assembly and connected to the machine atlongitudinally spaced points thereon to provide thrust components actingin opposite longitudinal directions as well as transversely of themachine.

CARL W. MOTT.

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